Thursday, February 14, 2013

Introducing Dave's New Sports Advisory Board UPDATED 4x

Thirteen people were appointed to Dave Brumfield's new Sports Advisory Board on February 12, 2013.  Kristen Linfante announced the following individuals in this order:
                                                                                                Term Ending
  1. Chip Dalesandro - Hoodridge Drive Football Association   March 31, 2014
  2. Dale Cable - Rocklynn Place Basketball Association           March 31, 2014
  3. Stacey Franklin - Pinetree Road Field Hockey Association March 31, 2014
  4. Jim Reed - Meteor Circle, Upper St. Clair Ice Hockey       March 31, 2014
  5. Walt Henry - N. Meadowcroft  Indoor Tennis                      March 31, 2015
  6. Tim White - Roycroft Avenue  Lacrosse                              March 31, 2015
  7. Dave Franklin - Pinetree Road   Parks Advisory Board       March 31, 2015
  8. Anna Murphy - Craigview Drive Skating Club                      March 31, 2015
  9. Brian Auer - Old Farm Road Soccer Association                March 31, 2016
  10. Scott Foor - Jonquil Place Softball Association                  March 31, 2016
  11. Joy Pajak - Crystal Drive Women's Golf                              March 31, 2016
  12. Christopher Curran - Broadmoor (At-Large)                       March 31, 2016
  13. James Menegazzi - Lavina Avenue (At-Large)                     March 31, 2016
After the meeting, I questioned Dave Franklin's appointment. He is representing the Parks Advisory Board and will not be a voting member. The agenda provided this information:

On November 26, 2012, the Commission established a Sports Advisory Board.  The board will include 11 members chosen from sports organizations and two at- large positions. 

Being a Mt. Lebanon graduate who was transfixed with the 1972 high school construction, my numbers don't add up.

Update 3:55 PM Bill No. 20-12 does not stipulate voting members. The meeting minutes do not make mention of voting members. Matt Kluck provided the organizations associated with the above representatives. He is checking with the solicitor on how add the section about voting members. Matt also pointed out that there are organizations who are not being represented such as Platform Tennis, Baseball Association, Women's Softball League, Wrestling, High School Hockey, Aqua Club, Men's Golf League, Softball Fast Pitch and Tennis Players Association.  Thanks, Matt, for the update.

Update 4:08 PM Minutes from the 11-26-12 Public Hearing for this board.

Update 4:45 PM Bill No. 20-12 was amended to reflect voting vs. nonvoting members, but was never published on the municipal site. I have emailed Steve Feller asking for the amended bill to be published online. Again, thanks for your follow up, Matt.

Update 5:09 PM Wow! Steve Feller emailed the amended bill eighteen minutes later!  Thanks, Steve! Here is the amended bill. Amended Bill No. 20-12

52 comments:

  1. Oh my God, I'm shocked. Where'd they find all these new faces? You can be sure with all these 'new' advisors we're going to be hearing a lot of great new, innovative ideas. Like turfing and lighting a field!

    "Ding dong, ding dong... ring out the old, ring in the new"

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  2. What!!!!

    Number 4 lives in Upper St. Clair, what the hell is that about?

    That's good, we have a guy advising us to spend lots of money on recreational sports so our taxes go up and USC looks more attractive to new home buyers.

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  3. Number 4 coaches hockey and is president of the Mt. Lebanon Hornets. Through a Google search, here is his bio:
    James Reed has joined Pitt's ACHA Division 2 hockey team as an assistant coach for the 2008-2009 season. He has coached hockey with the Mt. Lebanon Hornets for 12 years, including the past 7 seasons as the head coach of the Midget Major team. In addition, James is a USA Hockey Level 4 advanced coach and is the current president of the Mt. Lebanon Horents. He previously coached for 2 seasons at Chartiers Valley High School and also coached baseball for 4 years for the Upper St. Clair Athletic Association.

    James is married with 3 grown children. He lives in Upper St. Clair and is the owner of Reed Sports in Green Tree, PA. James is inspired by the teachings of UCLA legendary basketball coach, John Wooden.
    Seems pretty qualified to me.
    Elaine

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  4. Looks like he coaches with Joe Rodella.
    Joe Rodella is his 5th year as Head Coach of the University of Pittsburgh’s ACHA Division 2 team for the 2012-2013 season.

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  5. I didn't say he wasn't qualified, but shouldn't he be a member-at-large or at least a non-voting member like Franklin since he is not a MTL resident? Maybe he is one of those but then the numbers don't add up do they?

    After all its easy to tell people how to spend their money if it has no effect on your pocketbook.

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  6. It's loaded up with folks from Dave Brumfield's ward.

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  7. Another problem with Reed being on the Sports Advisory Board.
    Couldn't every one of his positions/votes be consider a conflict of interest.
    Having a sports equipment retail store that could possibily profit from increased team sports activity doesn't make him exactly an unbiased participant.

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  8. I'm not acussing Reed of being dishonest, or a bad person or not knowing anything about sports. He perhaps knows in his little finger than I do in my whole body.
    But we had a problem with Joe D. voting on issues between the muni and the high school when he took a job with PJDick.
    The FBI has or had a problem with Rodella being on the board of PACyber and connected with a supplier.
    So why would Reed be any different?
    Let's say the Sports Advisory Board recommends a special deal for CCM advertising on the dasher boards at the rink. And oh by the way, Reed Sports carries a complete line of CCM hockey equipment.
    See the problem?

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  9. All valid concerns except Joe D was with dck worldwide, not PJ Dick.
    I believe it was the commission who approved this list, so send them an email: commission@mtlebanon.org
    Good luck with that.
    I wish they would identify each organization's representative. I also would feel better if the commission would clarify which representative is a voting member. There was quite a bit confusion at the commission meeting regarding that.
    Elaine

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  10. Yes you are correct dck worldwide, my bad.
    Good idea on making available each persons organization association.
    Plus if they have any POTENTIAL conflicts of interest.
    I don't know that any do, but let's say they were a representative for a company that makes turf, or soccer balls, or lacrosse sticks etc.

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  11. Where they subject to background checks ? We wouldn't want anyone with criminal backgrounds.

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  12. A topic for the SAB.
    http://www.pittsburghcurlingclub.com/learn-to-curl/

    Now not every resident is a kid or potential sports super star.

    There are plenty of seniors that might be looking for less strenuous recreational/social activities. Hope there committees focus isn't just on youth sports though it appears to be stacked that way.

    Hey we have the ice already! Maybe we'll develop some future Olympians!

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  13. Correction:

    "There are plenty of ADULTS AND seniors that might be looking for less strenuous recreational/social activities. Hope THIS committees focus isn't just on youth sports though it appears to be stacked that way."

    Or perhaps the name of the group should be changed to YOUTH SPORTS ADVISORY BOARD and we form another committee to look out for adults and seniors.

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  14. "In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males."

    It appears Mr. Brumfield's SAB main concern is with 1/4 of the communities demographic?

    So it should be pretty obvious what the SABs findings will focus on doesn't it. Surprise! Surprise!

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  15. It's election year again; time for the sports gangs to demand another handout!

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  16. Lease the fields to the YSA for the tax equivalent of a $500,000 property at 23 mils.

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  17. 2:07 you hit it, calling it like it is... Youth Sports Advisory board.

    YSA -- ta da!!!!

    Mr. Brumfield, I'll remind you:
    "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." - Abraham Lincoln

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  18. Nothing like a rigged committee to tell you what you want to hear.

    Oh well! The parents in Brumfield's ward don't care about anything but sports anyway.

    Academics? What is that?

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  19. John Bendel will be the Commission liaison while Ed Kubit will be the School Board liaison. You may remember that Ed Kubit was president when we turfed the high school football field.
    Also, Jo Posti this Dec. 22, 2009
    Board Approves Retaining Stadium Turf Consultant Funny how it is all coming to fruition.
    Elaine

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  20. That should get more votes for Mary Birks.
    Elaine

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  21. Wait till the names appear for the PK Fund Raising Campaign get released.

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  22. Pathetic. All of it. The commission, the schoolboard, all of it. Wake up, people. Between the locals and the feds, we're all being run over by government. The level of cronyism and corruption is third world. And nobody, not ONE elected official, has the courage or integrity to speak out. I give up.

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  23. http://bloglebo.blogspot.com/2009/02/some-mt-lebanon-residents-ask-for-new.html?m=1

    From the PG article:
    "Build Our School Now representatives, including Kristin Linfante and David Brumfield, pledged to the board that they would knock on doors in the community lobbying people to approve the referendum [for a $150 million high school]."

    Do you think they've made a similar pledge to the SAB? Only this time they don't have to lobby they get to actually vote for the SAB's recommendations.

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  24. Oh great that forward looking financial wiz, Ed Kubit, that was so convinced and spent a bundle sending out a FAQ to tell his constituents the HS project would likely come in far under estimates is now a liaison for the SAB!

    Oh great!!! Happy days are here again!

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  25. so what about the background checks? Woulnd't want anyone with possible criminal tendencies to be involved in anything related to sports, or our town.

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  26. 71.1% of Mt. Lebanon's population is 25 years of age or older, and what do you imagine Mr. Brumfield's Sports Asvisory Board will focus on?
    Come on we know... Artificial turf and lighted fields.
    Which will be promoted endlessly by the new, feel good Lebo blog from the PIO.

    Here's a poll idea Elaine. How many in that 71.1% are looking to play lacrosse, soccer, football or baseball.?

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  27. Thanks Matt!

    Wonder should anyone want to try and get a new recreational program (such as frisbee golf, curling, bike trail/velodrome, yoga, skateboarding or whatever) started will they have to navigate through the Sports Advisory Board first or will they have to go through a different line?

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  28. Reading Feller's revise of Amended Bill No. 20-12 it states in Section 133.2  that there will be 13 voting members of the Sports Advisory Board and it will consist of sports organization and/or Parks Board.

    Elaine you list 13 names on the SAB, one of which is Dave Franklin. Do you remember who told you Dave won't be a voting member?

    Plus if that was the response after the meeting they approved something completely different from what the commissioners approved. PR Feller's Amended Bill 20-12 wasn't approved!

    You would think with all the legal beagles involved in this, all the ts would be crossed and all the is dotted.

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  29. Read the last sentence of 133.2. "Any Parks Board representative shall be nonvoting."
    Dave Brumfield confirmed that Franklin would not be a voting member. That is why I emailed the commission. What I was reading online did not match what was discussed at the meetings.
    Elaine

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  30. I quote directly from section 133.2 from Feller's amended offering.

    "there shall be thirteen (13) voting members of the Board that shall consist of: (i) eleven (11) members chosen from any sports organization recognized by the Commission and/or the Parks Board; and (ii) two (2) at large positions."

    Your list shows 13 people - two - Curran and Mennegazzi are listed as at-large members. The other 11 members include Franklin.

    So if Franklin is a non-voting member the board is one member short since it is to be comprised of 13 voting members regardless of the last sentence or you Elaine are missing a voting member's name.
    If you're missing a name, then Franklin is a 14th member of the board that is to be comprised of not 12, not 14  -- just thirteen (13) voting members.

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  31. Yes, I know. That is why I wrote:

    "Being a Mt. Lebanon graduate who was transfixed with the 1972 high school construction, my numbers don't add up."

    It is that Mt. Lebanon math again.
    Elaine

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  32. Damn, remind me never to retain of these people to write contracts for me.

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  33. No disrespect for the USC resident but I believe we have an ordinance that says members of our boards and authorities must be residents of Mt. Lebanon. I suspect the commissioners will catch this error and correct it. He's probably a fine gentleman but we can't break the rules.

    Elaine, your count is right but not exactly. Mr. Franklin will not vote so he will not be included as part of the "13" since he is a liaison from the Parks Advisory Board. Also, Mr. Bendel and Mr. Kubut (I believe it is Kubut) will be liaisons from the Commission and SB respectively and will not be included in the "13" count either.

    It seems to me the Commissioners need to add one more member and replace the USC resident.

    That's the way this resident reads it anyway!

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  34. That is how I see it too. They need one more sports rep and also one more to replace Reed. Considering Kristen read this straight from the agenda:
    On November 26, 2012, the Commission established a Sports Advisory Board. The board will include 11 members chosen from sports organizations and two at- large positions.
    That is why I balked when I heard Franklin's name, Dave B. I thought you were announcing the 11 members from sports organizations as Kristen read. I knew that Franklin was going to be from the Parks Advisory Board, so he would have had one voting position and one non voting position.
    Elaine

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  35. I bet Franklin was ok with that.

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  36. Perhaps Chip represents 2 organizations, since he is the commissioner of both football and baseball.

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  37. No, I talked to President Kluck about that. Chip can only represent one organization. That is why football is listed. Chip can'thave two votes. Even if Jan Klein gave him a letter that was at his home saying it was OK, Chip can't represent two sports organizations.
    Elaine

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  38. Reed Sports is no longer in operation. But if the commission and/or residents are concerned about Jim Reed's USC address, or the fact that the Mt Lebanon Hornets organization includes members both inside and outside our borders, perhaps they should consider either Rich Malcolm or John Mucha.

    Both serve on the board of the High School Hockey Association, both are affiliated with the MLHA Hornets, and both are conscious of balancing costs with present and future benefits.

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  39. The Aqua Club should be represented on this board. It is one of the best run organizations in Mt. Lebanon - has very good relationships with both the school district and municipality. It has shown over its 50+ years that it is possible to work together to benefit both the club and community. It runs the swim lessons program formerly run by both the town and the school district, and does it better. Groups like this should not be excluded from this exclusive cabal...

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  40. This is mostly the same tired list of deadbeat athletic supporters that have been "advising" the board for years now that that they need turf or space or turf or whatever it is they think they need at the moment, but they just can't even come up with the first $100 to start the process. What a waste of time for the Commission and the staff. This really reflects poorly on how Mt. Lebanon is governed.

    John

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  41. John, you are exactly right this is a reflection of how poorly our local government is run.

    Section 133.2 should be a SIMPLE guide to the number of people on the board, who votes, who doesn't, who is a liaison, who isn't. Instead we get a document that looks like it was penned by a SIMPLETON!

    Consider also now we need to resolve whether a non-resident can sit on a MTL Board.

    We saw the same incompetence in the field sign ordinance. They knew they wanted money from advertisers so they passed the ordinance. But they have no clue on who will administer the ordinance or whom will get the revenue.

    If they can't perform thes two simple task listed above how can they administer the operations of the entire community? How can they keep track of millions of dollars, but can't add 11 + 2 -1 and figure out it doesn't total 13?!

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  42. Plus, we have 5 commissioners that didn't question any of it until Elaine's blog forced the issue.

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  43. 4:23 PM, we do have a math problem here in Mt. Lebanon. I want to point out a difference though. The commission wants to make things right. The school board doesn't.
    Elaine

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  44. I'd agree if you said 2/5s of the Commission wants to make things right.
    Do not ever forget Linfante and Brumfield were participants in lobbying for the early $150 million totally new high school plan.
    There has never been an admission by either that doing so would've have been a grave mistake, Even with the hindsight of today's budget discussions. They can't admit they were wrong.
    Instead they'll look for more ways to spend money they don't have on the commission.
    They can't add and they can't see that their no sports advisory board is a mirror image of the old YSA.

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  45. Yes, for sure Matt and Kelly. Maybe even John. This sports advisory board is Dave Brumfield's idea. Allegedly.
    Let's hope they can get it right.
    Elaine

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  46. I agree with the writer of today's 1:53 p.m. post: Aqua Club absolutely should be represented. It has been a well-run, successful organization for many decades.

    There is too much emphasis on team sports in this town.

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  47. A question nobody has asked.
    Why out of a population of 33,000, with numerous sports groups and members is it necessary to gave two (2) Franklin's on the board?
    Couldn't these two debate the issues concerning Lebo sports over the dinner table, come to a consensus and one of them vote their position?

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  48. 630: the reason there are 2 Franklins is because about 99 percent of the community isnt paying attention. Thats what people like the Wonder Daves are counting on.

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  49. Did any of the 13 play any role or push for the McNeilly purchase?

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  50. The original "drivers" for McNeilly were Commissioners David Humphreys and Dale Colby, founder and president of the YSA, and his cohort Commissioner Ty Ely plus Bill Moore, Dir. of Recreation. Consider then the YSA leadership and membership leadership in 2002 and since then.

    The original cost estimate for developing the 23+ acres into 2 football/soccer fields and a regulation size baseball field, plus stadium seating, concession stand, lavatories and lighted paved parking lot was $1,750,000 in 2002. The raw land cost $1,832,000.

    By 2012, the development cost estimates had been revaluated several times and had risen to $4,050,000. Site preparation alone was about 38% of the total development cost. The appraised value of the raw land had declined.

    Bill Lewis

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  51. Did anyone see the rifle club story on the front of today's Trib?


    http://triblive.com/sports/hssports/otherhighschoolsports/3494341-74/rifle-gun-sport#axzz2LBXjXouo

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  52. You beat me to it. Thanks for posting this article. There is another sports group not being represented in Dave's Sports Advisory Board.
    Elaine

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